Hair Restoration FAQ

Where Does the Hair Used in a Hair Transplant Come From?

The hair that is used in most types of hair transplant procedures typically comes from either the sides of the head or the base of the scalp. The “ring of hair” that most men have during the final stages of hair loss is typically where much of the donor hair comes from. A patient should expect to have his head looked at during a consultation in order to determine the density of the hair in the donor area and whether or not he would be an ideal candidate for a hair transplant procedure.

How long does a hair transplant procedure take?

Approximately 4-6 hours.

Am I awake during the procedure?

Yes. A local anesthetic is used to numb the scalp. This way, you can read, listen to music, watch television or sleep.

Is a hair transplant painful?

There is minimal discomfort during the initial numbing.

Do the transplanted hairs grow?

Yes, they continue to grow as if they were still in the back of the scalp.

I was told the newly transplanted hairs would fall out. Is this true?

Yes. Within 10 days to 2 weeks following the procedure, the newly transplanted hairs fall out. However, the tissue with the growth information remains and resurfaces the scalp in about 4-5 months.

What do the new hairs look like?

They will look like your normal hair as they grow in beginning fine and reaching its full thickness between 9-12 months.

How long are the transplanted hairs immediately after surgery?

3mm on average but they do not contribute any coverage immediately after the procedure and generally go into shock shortly afterwards.

Is there an immediate result from the transplant?

No. It takes about 6-12 weeks for the new hair to begin to grow and 9-12 months for the final result.

What do I look like after the surgery? Can I go to work the next days?

After surgery, we bandage the scalp with gauze wrap and compression bandage for the first 24 hours. After the bandage is removed, the scalp will have some redness and scabbing on the areas where the grafts were transplanted. These should heal within 4-5 days. Most patients who have a procedure on Thursday or Friday, return to work by Tuesday the following week.

What are the most common complications from a hair transplant?

The side effect we see most, although not often, is folliculitis (pimples). This occurs after a hair transplant begins to grow and presents itself as ingrown hairs. It is accompanied by redness and bumps that resemble pimples. Occasionally we also get reports of nausea from pain medication and swelling around the forehead region.